Nuclear power plant construction contract postponed

The contract for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Belarus was planned to be signed by the end of 2009.
But the signing of the contract has been postponed for at least six months, because it is not ready yet.

“The contract is still being worked on", Olga Tsyleva, a press secretary of the Russian contractor, told the European Radio for Belarus.  Atomstroiexport hopes that the contract will be ready by the end of the first quarter of 2010. But this is a political decision, so everything will depend on the top leadership.

According to Olga Tsyleva, the possible cost of the future contract remains obscure.

The European Radio for Belarus estimated earlier the construction of the nuclear power plant would roughly cost at least $9 billion.

Anatol Bondar, chief engineer at the Directorate of Construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, says that the following schedule has been approved by the leadership: contract agreement to be signed by the end of the first quarter of 2010; general contract to be signed by June 30, 2010.